Originally an immense book of nearly a thousand pages, Nightingale (DOPS VI) and the following volume, StormFlight (DOPS VII), contain by far the most twists and turns, reveals, and changes of any book(s) so far in the DOPS series. StormFlight is formerly the second half of Nightingale, picking up seamlessly after the "high point" of the first half. As Nightingale begins, a flare-up of the old tunnel-trouble distracts the Lighthouse clan of Mario, Gaston, Cholley, BelCampo, Cass and Lawrie from the imminence of Cass's departure for Aruba, and Lawrie's for New Mexico. Even as the two veteran camera-cruisers prepare to temporarily go their separately-contracted ways, a vast storm looms off the coast of Africa, creating such atmospheric and spiritual turbulence that Kanga is moved to pray for intervention. Abel, aboard the Claire du Monde, is concerned for his ship of course, but is aware that a good deal more is brewing with the tempest than mere wind and rain; also pulled into the fray is the Psalmsinger with Hiram Cochrane, Nat and Ossie, who with their physician friend Raul and wife/Claire officer Taloosi learn everything they ever wanted to know about Abel but were afraid to ask (as does Baron, who faints). Ramon meanwhile continues to battle the systemic poison that is threatening to shut down his vital organs; Jean-Michelle, tasked with his care and education, feels the time has come to impart a fantastic and rather frightening truth to the young man, which Caupoc must also reveal to Marisco. Caupoc and company embark on their expedition to search for and accompany one of the Guild members responsible for keeping the whereabouts of the sacred medicinal orchid secret, a dangerous trek into the territory of the notorious Don Hidalgo, with whom Cass and Lawrie have already had a most interesting exchange. Tempestuous changes and races against time, the odds and elements punctuate the joyful events that blossom in Nightingale, and lead directly into his sister-volume, StormFlight.